Scars decisions — 2019

The Board has vacated the previous decision and remanded three issues: right hip disorder, left ear deformity, and facial scars. The acquired psychiatric disorder issue is being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's headaches are granted as secondary to his service-connected anxiety disorder with anxiety and depressed mood.,Tinnitus is remanded for a VA audiometric examination to determine its etiology.,Obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for an updated VA examination and medical opinion considering the Veteran’s specific medical history.,Heart condition and high blood pressure are remanded for a VA examination and medical opinion addressing their relationship with service-connected conditions.,Adjustment disorder with anxiety and depressed mood remains at issue, requiring an updated VA psychiatric examination.,Right knee instability and degenerative changes with internal derangement remain at issue, requiring an updated VA examination.,Left thigh scar and right hand scarring are remanded for increased ratings based on the Veteran's current medical records.,TDIU is remanded due to the Veteran’s service-connected conditions impacting his employment.,Whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for any lung disorder remains at issue.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was denied as there is no current diagnosis of the condition. The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities was granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been denied. Effective dates earlier than the assigned dates are not granted as there is no evidence of intent to file a claim prior to those dates.,An effective date earlier than November 6, 2014 for PTSD, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and hypertension is denied.

The Board denied an initial compensable evaluation for scar, status post basal cell carcinoma and denied entitlement to an effective date prior to July 2, 2017, for the award of service connection for scar, status post basal cell carcinoma.,The appellant's last day of active service was July 1, 2017. The VA assigned an initial noncompensable evaluation and a July 2, 2017 effective date for the award of service connection.

The Veteran's scar of the left lower medial leg is painful and warrants a 10 percent rating.

The Veteran is granted TDIU based on major depressive disorder and SMC at the housebound rate effective January 24, 2014. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities include major depressive disorder, pseudofolliculitis barbae, residual pseudofolliculitis barbae scar, painful scars, and recurrent abscesses (MRSA).

The Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for increased ratings and service connection have been denied as the increase in disability was not factually ascertainable within one year of his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to determine the etiology of his right arm disorder, including whether it was incurred in or caused by active duty service. The initial compensable disability evaluation for right forearm scar residuals remains denied.

The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for TBI residuals, increased rating for bilateral hearing loss, increased rating for tinnitus, and increased rating for forehead scar due to additional development needs.

Effective date prior to June 26, 2017 for service connection of lumbar spine disability, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, surgical scars, and panic disorder and agoraphobia are denied as a matter of law.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a right elbow disability and remanded it. The claims for initial compensable evaluations for inguinal hernia and hernia scar are also remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral tinea unguium pedis, to include unstable or painful scars is remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including IHP and its secondary effects such as edema of the feet, hands, bunions, a ruptured duodenal ulcer, a scar associated with a duodenal ulcer, and diabetes mellitus type II. The Board found that there was no causal relationship between these conditions and service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has identified the need for additional development of records from the Boston VAMC and associated outpatient clinics, as well as an examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed cold injury residuals. The claims will be remanded pending receipt of these records and completion of the examination.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst scar caused ongoing and worsening pain throughout the period on appeal, but was not unstable or associated with underlying soft tissue damage. The scars of the extremities and posterior trunk also caused functional impairment.,The Veteran’s scars of the extremities and posterior trunk did not meet criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for scars of the lower extremities is denied, and his TDIU prior to September 5, 2015, is remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his employment history.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings have been remanded due to insufficient evidence. The herniorrhaphy scar remains at a noncompensable rating.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and his TDIU claim is denied.

The Veteran's bilateral inguinal hernia, status post repair, is currently rated as 0 percent disabling. The Board has found that the evidence does not show a recurrence of her inguinal hernias during the period on appeal.,An issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for residual scars secondary to the service-connected bilateral inguinal hernia, status post repair, is remanded due to the need for an examination.